Artificial candle



April 18, 1939. N. L. HOWARD ARTIFICIAL CANDLE Filed Oct. 21, 19:57

- J. N k F g W. 2.. go) Q i. v W

IN V ENTOR. /\/E WE// LHOWARD.

Patented Apr. '18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL CANDLE men L. Howard, New York, N. Y., assignor to Rex International Corp., New York, N.- Y., acorporation of New York Application October 21,1937, Serial No. 170,189

3 Claims. 67-65) producing properties indefinitely, being substan-' tially indestructible, and not readily subject to distortion or deterioration.

A further feature is in the provision of means 15 which include a candle substitute, made wholly of metal, unafiected by heat, either emanating from their flame or occurring in the premises in which they are used, and their fuel conducting means, being of mineral matter, requires no 20 trimming or snuiiing.

Another purpose is to produce a type of artiflcial candle that is eminently safe, the flame becoming automatically extinguished upon overturning of the candle.

25 Another aim is to furnish a portable lighting means of attractive appearance, extreme simplicity of parts, low cost of construction, and inexpensive iii-performing its function of light production by the combustion of volatile fuel.

30 These and correlative objects are accomplished by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting an essential component of this disclosure, and in which:

35 Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the combined burner cap and automatic extinguisher.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the candle as overturned and the cap in position to extinguish the flame.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the numeral i5 designates the tapered shell of the device, which is preferably cylindrical at its lower portion I6.

This base preferably has an internal tight lit- 50 ting partition, as a disc ll in its lower portion and in its extreme lower end is set a plug l8 forming a permanent, impervious closure.

At the opposite, upper, extremity of the shell is a loose fitting cap 20 conforming to the end 55 of the shell and generally semi-spheroidal in shape, the diameter of its rim being equal to that of the shell end.

Extending from the cap is a reduced tapered sleeve 21 terminating in a rim 22 of such diameter as to permit of its being forcibly pressed 5 through the opening in the end of the shell l5, while the length of the sleeve is such as to allow the rim 22 to be free within the shell, because of the increased diameter of the shell at the level of the rim when the cap is in its normal operative position.

The cap, together with its sleeve contain a cylindrical passage 23 open at the bottom of the rim edge and conically formed to present an oi'iflce 2i at the top of the cap.

It is to be understood that this element is so loose within the shell as to move freely outward upon overturning of the candle to extinguish any flame, but by reason of the rim 22 engaging the inner edge of the shell, does not become completely separated.

A'flocculent substance 25 substantially nonflbrous, as rock or mineral wool, is pressed into the shell through its upper end completely 'filling the entire space. 25

Thlsmineral is extremely hygroscopic and possesses a high degree of capillarity or osmosis, and when saturated with a volatile combustible fluid, entered by removal of the cap 20, may be ignited at the small shred 26, protruding through the 3 orifice 24 and there maintained in combustion until the fluid fuel has become exhausted or no longer required.

It is known that many fluids may be utilized, as hydro-carbon or'mineral oils, methane spirits, alcohols, etc., etc., and these fluids may be treated to produce pleasant aromatic odors and also to create a flame of variant colors.

Such candles may be provided with any preferred type of holder, as a candelabrum, lantern, 40 hand carried, etc., and are readily moved about as required.

The foregoing disclosure is to be regarded as descriptive and illustrative only, and not as restrictive or linsitative of the invention, of which obviously an embodiment may be constructed including modifications without departing from the general scope herein indicated and denoted in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is 60 claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An artificial candle comprising a tapered shell having a cylindrical lower portion, a plug permanently engaged in the base of said shell,

a disc iixedinsaidshell spacedly abovesaid plug, a cap on said shell, said cap having an inreaching extension and provided with a bore havingaeonvemlngwallopenatitsapex. and a non-fibrous iuel conducting means filling said tubeandhavingashmdextendiiigthronghthe boreofsaidcapintotheopeningatitltop.

. candleeomprisingatapered 'ingsaidiilling,ashredoi'saidiillingreaching.

through the cap, and means integral with said cap extremity for extinguishing flame from said shred, said means becoming operable upon overturn of the candle.

NEWELL L. HOWARD. 

